Meet a PC: Laura Phillips ’19

Every week, The Thrill features a member of a student-support organization to bring awareness about the various resources available to the student body on campus. This week, we’re featuring Laura Phillips ’19. Stay safe this weekend, and know that there is always someone you can talk to if you need help.

If you want to speak to a PC, they have Office Hours in the new Health and Counseling Center. Drop by and talk to a PC every Sunday-Thursday, 7-9 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays 5:30-7:30 p.m. Or call their 24/7 hotline at 740-398-3806.Cats or Dogs?

Dogs, because they just get you on such a deep, unthinkable level. They’re all amazing! You can hug a big dog like it’s a human being, but then a small dog is like a little baby that you can cradle against your bosom.

What is the best meal you’ve ever eaten?

This is cheesy, but my mom’s home-cooked meals. When she makes mac ‘n cheese and coca-cola ham, I am in heaven. That’s all I need!

What is your go-to music to improve your mood?

I always go to Joni Mitchell, especially her blue album. I start with Little Green and I make my way around town. And then, after Joni Mitchell, when she loosens you up, I go into a little Motown-y type stuff, so Stevie Wonder. He does wonders at loosening up your body. So Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, that sort of stuff.

What is the most memorable dream you’ve ever had?

One time I had this really scary dream when I was a little kid that my niece was on this conveyor belt, and it was the scariest thing, and I woke up screaming, “I need to see her right now!” I don’t know what was happening with the conveyor belt, but yeah, stay away from conveyor belts. Human beings on conveyor belts is never good!

What would you recommend to someone visiting your hometown?

I’m from Portland, Oregon, and I would recommend Powell’s bookstore. If you’re a book nerd– and I love reading, especially poetry–they have such a good collection of everything you can dream of. I went to high school right down the street from it, and I would go there after school and walk around for hours.

What is the best thing that happened to you this week?

This weekend my mom came and visited me from Oregon, and it was so needed. It was such a nice thing to bring together fall break. I appreciate my mom so much more now that I’m here, and to have here come here and be with me while I’m in the headset of appreciating and loving her is just incredible.

Do you have any advice for staying sane?

Really find something that is thoughtless and makes you happy. I go to music when I need to relax, and I sing, or I badly play the piano and the ukelele, so I think just find the time to do something that you care about, and something that really keeps you going but lets you rest at the same time.

Why do you love Kenyon?

I love that so many people come here from different places and somehow find a way to coexist. It’s really nifty! I’ve met so many different people here, and they are all friends with each other or they all know each other and they’re able to live with each other. Also, there are so many opportunities to find something I love here, and people that I love and build relationships.

Why did you want to become a PC?

I grew up in Portland, and I grew up with a mother who was a social worker. So her whole thing is counseling people and making sure they’re okay and safe and feel loved, and that was a lot of my upbringing– making sure other people feel loved and feel happy and comfortable. And when I got here, I saw that a lot of people were unhappy, which is something that happens on a lot of campuses, and I just wanted to make it a point to be the person they can come and talk to and feel safe around. I feel like I’m channeling my mother when I am a PC, which makes me happy because I just want to help people. That’s what I want to do for the rest of my life, so this is a great place to start!